Ingenuity Sun Valley high chair review

Our verdict, if you don’t read another word: the ity by Ingenuity Sun Valley is our 4 out of 5. It folds flat, stands up on its own when folded, and it’s one of only two high chairs we own with a 5-point harness. We’ve had it about six months. It does the job it’s meant to do, and it’s steady enough that our 18 month old sits in it without us worrying. It doesn’t feel as well made as other high chairs we’ve owned, and that’s the point it gives up.

One note on scope. We cover this chair as gear. When a baby is ready to sit and eat is a question for the AAP and your pediatrician, and how to fit the harness and use the chair safely is a question for the manual that ships with it and the CPSC, rather than a blog.

What the Ingenuity Sun Valley is

4 / 5our rating

A lightweight plastic high chair made to fold away. Standing, it measures about 29 by 22 inches and 39 inches high, and it weighs 5.5 kg, which is about 12 lb. It folds flat and stands up by itself once folded, and the tray clips onto the back of the chair so it doesn’t go missing.

It has a 5-point harness, a large tray with three positions, and a soft seat pad that comes off to clean. It comes with a two-section Twist and Dine plate that locks onto the tray. It’s made for 6 months to 3 years or up to 33 lb, whichever comes first, and it goes together without tools.

Six months with it

The honest summary is that the Ingenuity does what it’s for. It’s sturdy enough that we’re comfortable with our 18 month old in it, and we’ve had a child of about 25 lb in it, out of the 33 lb it’s rated for. We can’t speak for how it behaves at the very top of that range.

It isn’t the best-made high chair we’ve owned, and we’d rather say that plainly than dress it up. Next to the better chairs in our house, it feels a step down, and that’s the whole reason it’s a 4 rather than a 4.5 or a 5. It doesn’t have the solid feel of the best of them.

The fold

Folding flat is the reason to look at this chair. It folds down flat and then stands up on its own, so you can park it against a wall or in a cupboard without it sliding over. The tray clips onto the back of the chair for storage, which means the whole thing stays together as one piece rather than the tray living somewhere else.

Of the high chairs we own, two fold flat: this one and the Primo PopUp. The Primo folds thinner, to about 4 inches, with one button in around 10 seconds. The Ingenuity’s advantage is that it stands by itself and keeps its tray attached. The Graco folds but not flat, and the Baby Trend folds narrow rather than flat. If you’re trying to work out which kind of compact chair your home needs, our best high chairs for small spaces covers that decision.

The 5-point harness

This is the feature that sets it apart in our house. Of the other high chairs we own, only the Stokke Tripp Trapp has one too. The rest are 3-point. A lot of parents specifically want a 5-point, and if you’re one of them and you need a chair that folds flat, the Ingenuity is the one we own that does both.

We’re not going to tell you which harness your child needs. That’s for the manual and a standards body, not a blog. What we can tell you is which chairs have which.

The tray and the Twist and Dine plate

The large tray adjusts to three positions, so it can move as your baby grows. The more unusual part is the Twist and Dine plate that comes with it. It has two sections and locks onto the tray, so it can’t be thrown on the floor. It’s food-grade and goes in the microwave.

If you’ve fed a baby who has discovered that plates fly, you’ll see the point of that. It’s the kind of accessory you’d otherwise buy separately.

Cleaning

The soft seat pad comes off to clean. Our photo of the chair was taken right after a meal, crumbs and all, which tells you what you’re dealing with on any high chair. For a routine that works on this one and any other, see how to clean a baby high chair.

Assembly

It goes together without tools. It doesn’t arrive fully assembled the way the Primo does, but a tool-free build is the next best thing, and it’s a long way from the Baby Trend’s first assembly.

How it compares with our other chairs

Against the Primo PopUp, our other fold-flat chair, the Primo is better made, lighter at 10 lb and arrives assembled, and it’s our 5 out of 5. The Ingenuity wins on the harness, the tray storage and the plate. The full head to head is Primo PopUp vs Ingenuity Sun Valley.

Against the Graco, the Graco is the better-made chair and has the nicer tray for cleaning, but it doesn’t fold flat and it’s 3-point. The Ingenuity is the one if the chair has to be put away and you want a 5-point harness.

Against the Baby Trend, they aren’t really competing. The Baby Trend was our everyday chair at home for a year and a half, with recline, six heights and a toddler mode. The Ingenuity is a compact chair for when space is the problem. All six are ranked in our best high chair roundup.

Who should buy it

Buy the Ingenuity Sun Valley if you need a chair that folds flat and a 5-point harness matters to you. It’s also a sensible pick if you like the idea of a lock-on plate and a tray that stays with the chair when it’s folded.

If you’re still deciding what matters to you, our high chair buying guide goes through it one feature at a time. Skip it if build quality is what you care about most. The Primo is better made and folds thinner, and if you only need a compact chair that’s small while in use, the Graco is better made.

The bottom line

The Ingenuity Sun Valley is our 4 out of 5. It folds flat, stands up folded, keeps its tray with it, and it’s the only folding chair we own with a 5-point harness. It’s sturdy enough for daily meals with our 18 month old. It isn’t as well made as the best chairs we’ve owned, and that’s the honest reason it sits a step below the Primo PopUp.